I was very kindly given a copy of this book in return for an honest review. . . sorry if it is too honest.

An interesting paranormal mystery/love story, this book manages to cover numerous eras throughout history, all the way back to the ice ages and maybe further.

Kellyn is a young widow with a three year old and three months pregnant. Shortly after the death of her husband Michael she gets a strange call from a law firm, claiming to represent Michael's parents will. This is strange to Kellyn because Michael had always told her that he had also grown up an orphan, not knowing any family and longing for family and a place to call their own. Now, with his death, Kellyn wonders if anything her dead husband had ever told her was true. She mourns his passing, her loss, and is angered by what she feels to be his betrayal.

The lawyers say that for her son to inherit the family estate & fortune, Kellyn must agree to move just outside of Jackson and living in the family house until he reaches his majority. That is the only way that Scott will get the urgently needed funds. And Kellyn refuses to allow her kids to grow up anywhere near the way she did. She will give them a stable home, food, clothing, and love, for their entire lives.

Upon her arrival in the strange new town Kellyn discovers what she pictured as a charming Victorian is, well, not. Larger than anticipated, the house is not what it seems. Surprisingly Kellyn quickly meets a few people in town that almost instantly become her closest friends ever, which is challenging for Kellyn since she'd always been shy.

The four of them soon discover they have more in common than anticipated. Even the mother of Kellyn's new best friend Connie becomes involved in this mystery they must unravel. Luckily for them, Leanore is not only Connie's mother, she is also a spiritualist who may be able to assist them before time runs out for all of them . . . Again.

Decent character building in this book, and some very well crafted visual imagery. The plot begins a bit slow, but once the characters are established the story really takes off from there. The energy builds to a fever-pitch near the end of the book. . .

Unfortunately, like another of Ms. Carroll's books, I felt cheated by the end. Too much was left unfinished. It is almost as if the book(s) will become the first in two different series - there is that much important material left unexplained. Possibly intentionally? But as of this review I am unaware of a second book in the works for this, or Gemini Rising. Maybe I'll create my own reality in which all my questions get answered either in the original books or in sequels. Until then I then I suppose I will need to make do with the rather somewhat harsh concept that the ending was published while still in draft form. ( )